A letter for Mademoiselle
The CBB -> St Agnes's House

#1: A letter for Mademoiselle Author: LizBLocation: Oxon, England PostPosted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 12:10 am


Mademoiselle La Pâttre
The Chalet School
Briesau-am-Tiernsee
Austria



Dear Mademoiselle La Pattre,

You may not remember me, but I will never forget you, or those words you spoke to me three years ago.

I thought you were being harsh and unjust by expelling me, when you told me your best had done me no good. I thought I knew so much better than you, even though I was younger and just a schoolgirl.

I realise now that you were right when you told me I was greedy, bad-tempered and selfish. Would you believe that I am now a very different person to the child I was then. When I saw myself through your eyes, as a potential murderess I realised I had nothing to be proud of. Oh I was hochgeborene and I thought that was all that mattered, but I have since learnt that in itself is not something to be proud of, but something to live up to.

Since then your words have often come back to me; they have made me think about what I am doing in some situations and have safeguarded me from taking actions which would have been selfish and harmful to others.

You told me I must plead with God and not with you, but I am writing now with one last plea – for your forgiveness. If I dared, I would write to Joyce Linton or Josephine Bettany, and ask for their forgiveness, but I am still too ashamed of what I did and I haven’t the courage. If you have the opportunity and are able to think kindly enough of me, perhaps you would let them know how deeply sorry I am for my actions and their consequences.

Who knows what will happen in the days ahead? I fear what may be coming, but I take you and the girls at the Chalet School as my example, a standard to live up to.

You said that the Chalet School had failed me. I would like to let you know that it did not. That you did not.

May God bless you and keep you from harm.

Thekla von Stift

 


#2:  Author: SquirrelLocation: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 12:31 am


What a lovely look at a girl who was so hard a character while she was at the school. I am glad she found it in her heart to be able to write so openly. it would be nice to see what she went through to bring her too that - if you have the time of course! Whether you feel up to that or not, it was great, Thanks Liz

 


#3:  Author: Kathy_SLocation: midwestern US PostPosted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 5:02 am


Thanks, Liz! What a wonderful letter for Hilda to receive -- and for Thekla to write.

 


#4:  Author: LesleyLocation: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 5:03 am


Thanks Liz. It must have taken Thekla some courage to write that.

 


#5:  Author: MiaLocation: London PostPosted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 9:48 am


Thanks Liz, it's so interesting to see that Thekla doesn't feel the School failed her. I do like your one-off posts!

 


#6:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 10:19 am


Thank you Liz. Lovely letter to recieve from a girl who everyone thought was beyond saving.

 


#7:  Author: KatieLocation: A Yorkshire lass in London PostPosted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 11:38 am


That was lovely, Liz. Thank you.

 


#8:  Author: JoeyLocation: Cambridge PostPosted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 11:52 am


Thank you, Liz. I've always wondered about that letter.

 


#9:  Author: LucyLocation: Leeds PostPosted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 11:58 am


Joey wrote:
I've always wondered about that letter.


I've always wondered about that letter too - this was so exactly in the style of EBD and something I can very much imagine Thekla writing.

Must admit, like Squirrel, I'd love to see what had happened to make Thekla change so much.

Thanks Liz

 


#10:  Author: JosieLocation: London PostPosted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 12:00 pm


Thanks Liz Kiss

 


#11:  Author: MaryRLocation: Sale Cheshire PostPosted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 12:18 pm


What a wonderful piece, Liz.

How nice to see the impact the school made and that it would fortify Thekla in the dark days that were coming.

Thank you.

 


#12:  Author: RroseSelavyLocation: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 1:10 pm


That was lovely, Liz. A loose end tied up in a very EBD-ish way!

 


#13:  Author: RóisínLocation: Dublin PostPosted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 2:12 pm


That was great Liz Very Happy

 


#14:  Author: ChairLocation: Kent, England PostPosted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 2:53 pm


Thank you for writing the letter, Liz. It's nice to know that Thekla changed in the end.

 


#15:  Author: DawnLocation: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 3:37 pm


That made me really goose bumpy Liz - thankyou

 


#16:  Author: nikkieLocation: Cumbria PostPosted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 9:12 pm


Thanks Liz

 


#17:  Author: LizBLocation: Oxon, England PostPosted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 9:49 pm


Squirrel wrote:
... it would be nice to see what she went through to bring her too that ...

Lucy wrote:
Must admit, like Squirrel, I'd love to see what had happened to make Thekla change so much.

I don't have inspiration for anything more, but may I refer you ladies to the excellent "Memories" written by Pat, currently on the 2nd page of St Agnes, if you want more of Thekla's story.

Liz

 


#18:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 10:30 pm


Thanks Liz, that was a lovely look that that letter.

 


#19:  Author: RuthYLocation: Anyone's guess PostPosted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 9:04 am


Thanks Liz, it must have taken Thelka a lot of courage.

Really nice to see that she had changed and tried to do better.

 


#20:  Author: AllyLocation: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 3:15 pm


Thank you Liz, such a lovely letter.

 




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